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This is a tough match up for an opener, it should be one of the most exciting games in Week 1. It is widely expected to be a "Shoot Out" and for good reason as 2 of the league's best Offenses square off on national TV. I think this a great test for our team to see how we stack up against the AFC Elite, with all the Super Bowl hype of the off-season. Some of my key thoughts for this game:

- Will Smith & Charles Grant absolutely have to step up with huge games and show why they are Pro Bowl caliber players who are regarded to be one of the better DE tandems in the league. It's not all about sacks, Peyton Manning is one of; if not the most difficult QB to sack in the league simply because he's so great at feeling and avoiding the rush, and getting rid of the ball quickly. What I feel is most important is getting enough consistent pressure to force him to get rid of the ball before he wants to.

- Jammal Brown is also another key player along the trenches for this game. It'll be a monumental task for Brown who is coming off a knee injury and is probably rusty after not having played in a pre-season game for a while to just step right back in and block Dwight Freeney, one of the best pure pass rushers in the game. As long as he can hold his own.. I expect to see us give him a lot of help by rotating in a Tight End on his side, and sending a RB to chip Freeney.

- I hope we utilize Roman Harper as a extra Linebacker down in the box to Shadow Addai and cover him on those quick dumpoffs and screens Manning loves to check down to. I'd also like to see us bring him on the blitz.

- This was a rough draw as a first game to throw our Secondary into. This was our weakest unit last season, and although I think it is improved. Facing a QB like Peyton, and all those weapons in the passing game. (Harrison, Wayne, Clark, Gonzalez) is a monstrous challenge for any Secondary. I'm already expecting us to give up 200+ yards passing but I think the key is buckling down and getting the key stops down in the redzone, and on 3rd downs.

- We have to sustain long drives and eat up clock to keep Peyton and co. off the field as much as possible. They'll try to do the same thing to us so the Defense has to get off the field and can't fail on 3rd downs.

I have butterflies. Seriously. Not because I'm worried that we'll lose, but just... SAINTS FOOTBALL!! YES!! I'm almost giddy. By Thursday, hopefully my satellite situation will be fixed but if not.. some way I will see the game from the beginning.

The whole world loves neophyte athletic tight end Jimmy Graham from Miami with the 95th pick. "Best pick in the draft,'' one AFC coach told me. "Give him time, and in that offense, he'll be better than [Jeremy] Shockey by the start of next year.''

“We know that no matter the adversity, be it the lockout, be it the suspension or be it a hurricane, our men will pull together and defend the honor of this city. We’ve shown we’ve been able to do that.” - Jabari Greer

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I'm nervous, just because of the sheer magnitude of opening night on the National stage.. but I'm already tired of waiting for meaningful NFL Football I just wish I could fast forward to Thursday already.

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I am definitely ready for Thursday. We kick off the season against one of the better teams in the NFL. What I am looking forward to most is seeing how our defense handles the pressure of facing the Colts offense.

Beastly sig by BoneKrusher

Super Bowl XLIV Champions
WHO DAT!

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I touched on this on the Colts' gameday thread, but I wouldn't overlook that Saints HC Sean Payton has devised a gameplan for today's matchup. His gameplan against the Bears might have fallen short in the NFCCG, so that probably adds motivation if anything for him to get it right against the Colts today, with the benefit of a dome. Hopefully the Colts defense is ready and executes well, it's a given that there will be plays that they haven't seen on film before and/or take advantage of their aggressiveness. I'm expecting at least one double reverse, one reverse, and one halfback pass from the Saints tonight.

Best of luck in both teams staying healthy (especially as I have Drew Brees in one FF league and Reggie Bush in another :p ).

Pugnacity, testosterone, truculence, and belligerence.

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im excited for this game, wish the saints luck...should be very close, and being on turf i expect both teams to play their best...But it would be really tough for me to see the colts starting the season losing the first game, it hasnt happened in so long, so it will be a tough one for the saints

Originally posted by Scott Wright

I guarantee that if someone picks Cam Newton in the Top 5 they will regret it.

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I don't doubt that Payton will have some new wrinkles for tonight, on the other hand the Colts run pretty much the same Offense every year under Peyton and Moore but they execute it so flawlessly.

I'm excited but also worried. The Colts have been an outstanding team especially at Home, and with the emotions of hanging up their Super Bowl banner the atmosphere should be electric, and I see the Colts coming out with extra motivation because of it. I just hope we can withstand and temper the initial wave of emotions. It would be a big disadvantage to get down by a few scores early against this team, with those pass rushers.

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We didn't play a good half of football we're playing well enough just to hang in there but if not for a Jason David strip and fumble return for a TD we could be down by 2 scores right now.

The Offense that we expected to be a huge strength is getting shut down. We don't look as crisp in our execution and seem to be a little jittery, and dare I say this we seem to be a little conservative in our play selection. (but our O-line hasn't really shown they can contain the Colts speed rush quite yet)

The good news is that there is still a half of football left to be played. Except we must play exponentially better to be able to pull this one out.

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Its not even close to a championship defense at this point. Its a long season, I agree, but man they look awful on defense. It would be different if they were making Indy earn these yards, but they're not even bothering to check Wayne or Harrison at the line and they STILL can't stop the run.

The offense looking so mediocre has really shocked me though. I thought for sure they'd score some points.